Work begins to develop construction skills training facility
Work has started to build a construction skills hub on Wawne Road, in Hull.
Efficiency North Chief Executive, Lee Parkinson, turned the first turf on the building site for EN:Able Futures new facility, which is called The Humber Construction Hub.
The hub is funded through the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Construction Skills Fund, the Government’s £22m initiative to set up 26 training centres to help tackle the construction skills shortage in England.
Efficiency North Holdings brings together EN:Procure Ltd, EN:Able Futures CIC and EN:Able Build – three not-for-profit organisations dedicated commitment to supporting social and economic regeneration in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
EN:Able Futures concentrates on ensuring apprentices remain employed for the full duration of their apprenticeship, and focuses on providing the best apprenticeship opportunities to the young people of the region and the industry.
Parkinson said: “I’m really pleased to witness the start of the development of the Humber Construction Hub. It’s an innovative project that will give local people from the Humber a taste of what working on a real construction site is like, and the key skills they will need to pursue successful careers in an industry that is crying out for skilled workers.”
The lead contractor developing the site is Excel Modular Buildings, a local family-run business that will provide anti-vandalism modular buildings for use as offices and canteens.
Dennis Waller, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be working on a project that is all about getting local people in the area ready to work in construction.”
Another local family run business has been sub-contracted to provide the groundwork infrastructure. Daniel Roche, Director of MB Roche & Sons said: “It’s great being involved in a project like this because it gives our apprentices, who are all local people, including ex-offenders and ex-military personal, invaluable hands on experience of groundworks like drainage and concreting.”
Once complete, the hub will operate for ten years and provide on-site training to support people in Hull and the South Bank who want to join the industry, particularly adult learners and the long-term unemployed.
In order to provide comprehensive training to every learner that comes through the Humber Construction Hub, EN:Able Futures is asking for the support of businesses. It would like donations of tools, materials and equipment that can facilitate classes.
Items on the Hub’s wishlist include: two shipping containers/cabins to be used for painting, decorating and plastering classes, PPE, and a cement mixer. Businesses which would like to get involved can contact Nigel Hollington, Hub Site Manager, on 07884 589151.
